Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ War & Peace

“I
refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless
midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood
can never become a reality….I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love
will have the final word.” — Dr. Martin Luther King

Midweek Motif ~War
& Peace

The
World War I (1914 – 1918) ended with the establishment of the League of Nations
— with the aim to explore the possibilities how wars could be avoided.

Yet
armed conflicts among nations continue and Peace remains elusive as ever,
thanks to the belligerent nations. Life does not matter!!!!

Raise
your voice in this context.

1914

by Wilfred Owen

War
broke: and now the Winter of the world

With
perishing great darkness closes in.

The
foul tornado, centred at Berlin,

Is
over all the width of Europe whirled,

Rending
the sails of progress. Rent or furled

Are
all Art’s ensigns. Verse wails. Now begin

Famines
of thought and feeling. Love’s wine’s thin.

The
grain of human Autumn rots, down-hurled.

For
after Spring had bloomed in early Greece,

And
Summer blazed her glory out with Rome,

An
Autumn softly fell, a harvest home,

A
slow grand age, and rich with all increase.

But
now, for us, wild Winter, and the need

Of
sowings for new Spring, and blood for seed.

Earth
Is Frenzied With Fury

(A Song)

by Rabindranath Tagore

Earth
is frenzied with fury; in constant vile conflict;

Awfully
crooked its path; tangled in wily greed.

All
sore souls pray for the new birth of a Savior

Save
us O Great Life with Thine life giving words

Let
bloom the love-lotus with ever flowing nectar

O
the ever Serene, Free and Holy presence

Let
your Mercy absolve Earth of its stains

O
Generous One initiate onto the firm renouncing path

O
Supreme Mendicant claim our ego as your alms

Let
all forget their cares, woes; delusion be severed

Let
knowledge as the radiant sun dawn in its splendor

Let
all world gain life, the blind receive sight

O
the ever Serene, Free and Holy presence

Let
your Mercy absolve Earth of its stains

The
grieving heart of Mankind is smoldering with agony

Worn
out in treasure hunt the discontents are aggrieved

Lands
far and wide flaunt their blood-tilak* of filth

Sound
your conch of well being and bliss

Touching
all with Thy right hand to bless

Play
Thy auspicious tune to the rhythm of Grace

O
the ever Serene, Free and Holy presence

Let
your Mercy absolve Earth of its stains

Translated by Sumana Roy)

To
All In The So Called Defence Industry

by Adrian Mitchell

Arms trade workers, here's an early warning
You might wake up tomorrow morning
And find that this is the glorious day
When all your jobs will just melt away
Because the people of the world are going to make sure
There'll be no more, no more, no more war
So now's the time to switch your occupation
From dealing in death and desolation
Don't hang around now you've been told
The international murder trade's about to fold
You won't have to maim, you won't have to kill,
You can use your brain and use your skill.
Peace needs workers of all kinds-
Make artificial limbs instead of landmines.
Tricycles instead of tridents,
Violins instead of violence,
Lifeboats, hospitals, medicine, drains,
Food and toys and buses and trains-
Come on, there's plenty of work to be done
If we're going to make peace for everyone.

Please share your
new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community—

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality….I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” — Dr. Martin Luther King

Luv the hope which this quote holds for peace in our world

Happy Wednesday, its raining "cats and dogs" here in Trinidad and Tobago

Wonderful prompt, Sumana! I wrote my poem yesterday, before reading these terrific anti-war exposes!. I hope you'll except it as an antiwar poem, too, though it deals with child's play. I love also Adrian Mitchell's approach. The poem is new to me. I see a great need to convert war jobs into peace ones. My favorite quote above is MLK's ". . . I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

Hi kids. Timely prompt. I just finished reading Romeo Dallaire's book about the post traumatic stress he has suffered since his peacekeeping mission during the Rwanda massacre, when the UN ignored his pleas for help and he witnessed unimaginable horrors and was unable to stop it. He is wracked with guilt yet he could not have done more than he did, he saved many thousands as it was. The world, at large, did not seem to share the horror or the guilt. I havent written anything yet, but something may come......

If you have a poetry blog and have been ACTIVE by posting (and responding to others) on Poetry Pantry, or Verse First (and linking back to us) and wish to be added to this blogroll then click the link below so we can take a look at your blog......